2011-09-30 - Livin' 24:7

Part 2 ~ Orginally Preached 2008-10-08 ~ Updated

The verse for our third principle is found in the book of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 24:7 - If a man is found kidnapping any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and mistreats him or sells him, then that kidnapper shall die; and you shall put away the evil person from among you.

Wow! That's harsh but the law is full of stuff like this. If someone does this or that, don't let them in the temple. If someone commits this sin or that sin kill them. If they do something else kick them out of the city. It's all got the same underlying principle: get rid of evil among you. The third principle is get serious about sin. Learn to view sin as God does; quit making excuses for it just admit it and move past it. "Confess your sins not your neighbor's." We will never be sinless but we should try to sin less.

David is being hunted down by Saul. Him and his men hide in a cave. Saul comes into the cave and David's men want to ambush him.

1 Samuel 24:7 - So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

David talked his companions out of hurting Saul. The fourth principle has nothing to do with not killing kings; it is simply this: Influence others. Influence others for good. Notice the progression in these principles. First our heart is on the inside. Then comes obedience which is mental and physical since some commands are actively carried out externally - but it's just you. Next comes getting rid of sin which is in you and in close proximity to you with choosing what people to hang out with as your main group of friends. Then there comes influencing others. This is as big in your life as you allow God to let it be. Just by starting with little things you say or do, you can have a huge impact on others. "You may be the only gospel someone ever reads."

Will you live for every moment or live every moment for God? You have to decide.

If you choose to follow these 24:7 principles you can live an incredibly rich life for God. We are God's temple - the walls, the doors, all of it. That brings us to one final 24:7 verse.

Psalm 24:7 - Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.

Live and let the King of Glory live in your life!

IHFHBOH
Adam

acdum@hotmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references from KJV unless otherwise noted